Swing



Feb. 25, 930. 7 1,748,353

' SWING Filed Sept. 17, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l mam/Jimmy Patented Feb. 25, 1930 FRANK KU'CHERA, or TACOMA, WASHINGTON Application filed September 17,1928. Serial No. 306,501.

Myinvention pertains to swings commonly 'used for recreation and, pleasure. It is more particularly designed tobe used in private lawns and for family use where an easily operated, restful swing is desired. It will alsobe found useful in public parks, in play grounds'and other similar places.

- J One of the objects of my invention is to provide a swing thatvis partly automatic and can thus be easily operated without the strenuous useofthe feet and limbs as is required by swings now in general use. It has the further objectof providing a swing in which a gentle, moderate swinging motion can be obtained whilethe occupant is sitting 1'e-. laxed, or lying at rest; a swing in which a child or an invalid can swing themselves with but little physical effort.

'I attain these objects by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig.1 is a top View of my invention asset I up on the ground; Fig. 2 is. a front view of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a top View of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4' a side view of the top part of my invention as designed to be hung from a ceiL' ing or otheroverhe'ad support; Fig. 5 shows a side, end and topview of the pulleys over which the swings operating cord is run Fig.

6 is aside View of my invention with the automatic counterweights suspended on cords at its sides; Fig. 7 is a partial front View of Fig.6 showing how the counterwelghts cords are attached at the top of the swing; Fig. 8 is atop View of the bottom part of Fig. 6 from the line 88 ;'-Fig. 9 is an enlarged top view of 'the guide pulleys of the counterweight sidesof theswing seat to allow a'slightroclr.

cords near the ground; and 10 is a side and top view of the slotted members on the ing motion.

Similar characters refer to similar parts in the several views. I I My invention is supported ona stout of frame, preferably of wood, with upright supports 1 set on a ground frame of sills 2 and cross tie members 3. The swing pivot beams 5L and the cross tie members 5 at the top make the supporting frame complete,

form

proper braces being added as shown to make the same rigid.-

Theswing seat 6' may be .of' any suitable form orsize desired. 1 Itmay be of a length to allow an occupant'tolie down, the frame 1 being widened to receive it. The seat is hung between the bars 7 which are pivotally hung. by means of a tubular bar 8 with its endsextended to rest in the bearings 9 of the beams 4. The seat ends are attached to a the bars 7 by suitable means, preferably/by a tubular bar 10,passing tlirouglrtlie ends of the seat and beneath the seat proper. Near the top of the seat ends the bars 7 are attached to slotted members 11, more fully shown in Fig.10. These slotted members allow a slight rocking motion to the seat and adjust .it tothe motion of the swinging seat ahdto the coinfort of the occupant.

:The swinging bars 7 are extended abovethezpivotalibearings to support. a tubular bar 12 on which two counterweights 13 are mounted or suspended. These are of sufficient weight to almost balance-the; weight of the swinging seat below the pivot bar 8. By "these counterweights the swing is made to swing more easily'when in use. The swing 1s operated by means of a cord ll centrally attached to. the bar 12. This cord passes downwardly to therear and under a pulley 15, then forward over a second pulley 16 and down in front of the swing seat. A pull on the cord will i'mparta forward movement to the swing seat, and. any one occupying the seat can thus swing himself forward without other. effort. The weight of the occupant .will swing the/seat backward when another pull on the cord will impel the seat further forward. Inthis way a moderate and rest- 7 fol-swinging movement forward and back without further exercise of other parts of the body, isattained.

i It willfbe. observed a well known fact thatin operatinga swing the greatesteifort I} 1srequ1red 1n-the forward movement. The

c'ounterweightsdg and the cord 14 passing 'foverthe pulleys 15 and 16 are designed. to

secure this forward movement. By vigorous pull ng on the cord 14, the seat can be made to swinigquitelngh, though my invention 1s many such places.

A supplemental manner of using the counte'rweight-s is shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. In

designed for more restful exercise. A moderate swinging movement can be secured with slight effort.

. In Fig. 4 is shown how the frame members i and 5 can be hungfrom a ceiling or other overhead support by means of suspension bars 17. By this means my invention can be put up in a summer porch, in a pavilion or m other places wherean overhead support is i The invention will be useful in available.

this method the tubular bar 12 is made some longer so the ends will extend over and outside the supporting frame. The counterone from each end weights are then hung, of the bar 12 by meansof asmall stout chain or wire. cable 18, the weights being concealed in pits below-the surface of the ground as shown at 19. In some instances,rthis method of attaching the counterweightsmay be'considered preferable. It will be observed the cables near the ground are'confinecl between two pulleys 20 so the Vertical lines. 1 It willbeobserved weightswill act only in my invention is in'the counterweights fixed on or attached to the swinging'bars above their pivotal hearings to partially balance the weight of the-swinging seat. By this means require.

the object is attained of securing or providing a swing in which a moderate, restful swinging motion can be' secured with easy eifort by the occupant. It is thus a new and useful means by which theobjects and purposes set forth are obtained.

It is to be further observed that I do not limit myself to proportions, dimensions or materials, but reserve the right tovary the same as circumstances andconditions may It is tobe tached counterweights will so equip the ordinary form of swing to be operated more easily than as now constructed. They alone will be a marked improvement to any swing hung with stiff swinging'bars.

Having described my invention, I claim: The combination 1n a swing of theclass indicated, of a supporting frame, seat supporting bars extending above their pivotal bearings in said frame,the seat of said swing partly balanced by 'counterweights suspended from the top ends of said extended bars, and said counterweights confined within pits beneath thesurface ofthe ground with guide pulleys for saidcables whereby said counterweights will be made .to reciprocate vertically within said pits, as described and shown and for the purposes set forth.

I FRANK 1 KU ERA.

that the novelidea of further observed that reserve the right to use my invention without the use 7 of the'operating pull cord 14 since the at- 

